Date of birth:

November 20th, 1917 (Blairmore, Alberta, Canada)

Date of death:

November 17th, 2001 (London/Ontario, Canada)

Service number:

J15336

Nationality:

Canadian

Daniel Walker worked for the Alberta Forestry Service before enlisting in the RCAF in Calgary on August 16th, 1940 and flew during the war three tours.
During the Dambuster Raid, he was the navigator with Flight Lieutenant David Shannon as pilot.
As they approached the Mohne Dam Guy Gibson realised that a breach had been effected, and ordered Shannon to divert to the Eder dam.
Walker navigated the Lancaster through fog to the Eder, where Shannon dived into the darkness between two 1,000 feet ridges and made four abortive runs up the valley.
On their fifth attempt he released his bomb and saw water heaving up over the dam's parapet. Another Lancaster then completed the job, unleashing 200 million tons of water.
Walker gave Shannon the course for home, and they arrived back at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, for breakfast. Of the 133 aircrew who had set off 56 were missing.
After the war he received a permanent commission, and commanded the navigation school in Winnipeg and served with Norad at Tacoma, Washington, before retiring in 1962 as a Wing Commander.
He then worked as a manpower commissioner, helping people to find jobs.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flying Officer

Unit:

No. 106 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

January 12th, 1943

Citation:
"Flying Officer Walker has displayed great ability as navigator. He has completed many operational sorties against a great variety of targets. He participated in the daylight attacks on Le Creusot and Milan in which considerable success was achieved. This officer's fine work has set an excellent example to other navigators.."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flying Officer

Unit:

No. 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

May 28th, 1943

Awarded for:

Operation Chastise

• - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35858 published on the 8 January 1943
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36030 published on the 25 May 1943
  - Air Force Association of Canada
  - The Telegraph - Obituaries